Some ideas and questions about the FORD 8.8 axle:

Kern Dog said

Thanks.
My idea was to juggle the parts to get 2 rear axles for two cars while leaving the axle housings looking unmolested.....sort of.
I can weld but I worry about warping or distortion of the axle tubes. It seems that if I welded the tube slightly of square, the bearing would wear too fast, the brake may overheat or the alignment of the car may be a problem.

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I got two mostly because I found a second really nice low mileage one with excellent brakes and needed a second short axle. I hadn't considered turning this second one into a longer diff. Good thinking. Might work well in another vehicle like a truck that needs the longer one.
As far as connecting the parking brake one side connected fine and for the other I fabricated an adapter bracket because the cable was a little short. .